Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 167, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1914 — The Master’s Dwelling Place [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Master’s Dwelling Place

By REV. GEORGE E. GUILLE

Bible Teacher. Exteonon Departmaut Moody BiUo Institute, Oorago

TEXT—“Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What -seek ye? They said unto Him, Master, where dwellest thou? He saith unto them. Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt and abode with Him that day: for it was about the tenth hour." John 1:38-39.»

These words present a "picture of exquisite beauty, a picture of the heavenly calling of the Lord’s people, >to whom it is given to find his dwelling place and to dwell there with him. The two disciples of the Baptist had heard his joyful «pxclamation: “Behold the Lamb of God!" It was the outpouring of a

full -heart that had found its all in Christ The testimony of such a heart Is never fruitless ; for “the two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus.” And that Is the effect of all true testimony for Christ; it moves men to follow him! When Jesus saw them following he turned with a question, one that was in itself quite natural but which has a deeper significance than appears on the surface —“What seek ye?” The import of the question lies in the tone and manner of the asking. On other lips than his, it might inean annoyance, suspicion, chagrin. • But we know perfectly how such a question was asked by him whose whole life was an invitation to men to come to him, and in whose every message can be seen the outstretched arms of the Savior; and, tiiough It forms a question, it was In reality a loving invitation, that at once drew out the hearts of the two following disciples. But what does it mean to those who are not following him? What rqbuke is in it? And the Lord presses that question upon every man, “What seek ye?" What is the aim of your life? What is its purpose? Have you put first things first? Until Christ gets his place before your heart nothing else can be right. Oh, happy heart! if you can say—“ Master, where dwellest thou? It is thou alone whom I seek, and above all things else I desire thee!" “Master, where dwellest thou ?” They had seen what Christ was to another heart and they longed to discover him thus for themselves. And those words sank into a heart more than responsive to such a desire. How eager he is for us to come to him! “God is faithful, 1 by whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord." He longs ever to have his own with himself, and we see in the next/place—“Come and see.” It is the only answer. There are some things that cannot be told, and the secrets about the Master’s dwelling place are among those unspeakable . things. If you would know, them you must “come and see" for yourself. The only man who was ever caught up to heaven and came back again, said: "I beheld unspeakable things which it is impossible for man to utter.” And of these unspeakable, unutterable things, the Master’s dwelling place is the present anticipation. This “Come and see” to following disciples is a call to them to learn of Christ first-hand. Many know nothing of him except through others. They hear what human, faulty witnesses say about him, but they do not learn from him. 0, soul, “Come, and see” for yourself where he dwells and let nlm speak to you of “the things concerning himself” with his own blessed lips of truth! Do not wait for others. No man has ever found his dwell-; Ing place and turned infidel. Scoffers and scorners have never been there with him. The rationalist, with his hostile criticism of Christy has never come to see. No man can find the place where he dwells and abide with him there, Without being filled with a deep sense of the reality of the “unspeakable things” and w<fh the overflowing joy of the Lord. The Response and the Blessing. “They came and saw where he dwelt” But where? No name la given; no place of earth la mentioned. Why this reserve? He was far from Nazareth where he had made his home, and we cannot forget the words that turned back a would-be fol--lower, "The Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.” • , But he has a dwelling place! The* eighteenth verse of the chapter tellsj us about it: “The only begotten Son, t which is ih the bosom of the Father.”! It is to that place of holy Intimacy i and companionship with himself toi which he invites and welcomes all hisl own. The Father’s bosom, the Son’si abode, is the place of blessing fori all who will “Come and.see.” - .._ O soul, if you would know these, things that cannot be told, “Come and! see" for yottreeK. - —i.——